crested gecko stuff

nitram · #1 (**permalink**) 03-21-2010, 09:47 PM

hello. been wanting to get a crested gecko for some time now, been reading up on different care sheets and it seems no 2 crested gecko care sheets are the same (at least the ones i've seen).
they all seem to agree crested gecko diet every 2-3 days with the once n a while dusted cricked treat is a sufficient diet, but when it comes to husbandry i see difference. some will say crested geckos do not need UV lighting at all, but require at least 70% relative humidity while some say they need special lighting and the humidity isnt important, etc etc etc.
wanted to hear from experienced crested gecko owners on how it is youre supposed to care for these guys. thanks!

mongoose5971 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-21-2010, 10:55 PM

I say no on UV, yes on humidity. Can't really see needing UV on any nocturnal animal.

_Sam_ · #3 (**permalink**) 03-21-2010, 11:05 PM

No UVB is needed, in fact I don't keep any lighting on my cresteds at all. Humidity is important, but I have never measured % humidity in any of my cages lol. Mist them once or twice a day, you should be fine. If they do not shed properly, it's too dry. Most often, there's no problem with this.

BlackLava · #4 (**permalink**) 03-21-2010, 11:08 PM

cresties are the easiest gecko ever! we keep ours in the snake room where its always about 80-82, it stays fairly humid in there too, all i have to do is feed and give him water lol.

nitram · #5 (**permalink**) 03-21-2010, 11:47 PM

i have an ambient humidity of about 60% relative humidity where i keep my reptiles.. if its hot outside and it gets muggy it can get up to 70% if its colder it will drop to 50-55%, this is with no added humidifier..
the ambient temp is about 75-80 degrees.
do i need to add a hot spot / cool spot for the cresty like my snakes?
i understand the cresties will drink not so much from a bowl but from the leaves after misting, is a once/twice a day misting recommended?
is it important to feed some dusted insects on top of the cgd?
sorry for all the questions but its not as easy to get a "standard" crested gecko caresheet as it is for most animals... that i could find, anyway. thanks for all who replied your help is most appreciated.

BlackLava · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-2010, 11:56 PM

i give mine crickets sometimes, and the cgd as a staple. we only mist our crestie about every other day, but he has a water dish in there that he drinks from too.

EmilyK · #7 (**permalink**) 03-22-2010, 12:05 AM

Your room temp is fine for the geckos.. they don't need a heat gradient in their cages.

I mist my cages twice a day when I've got time, but they usually get misted once a day. All of my cages have water bowls in them.

I've seen most of my geckos use their water bowls. You don't need to feed bugs to cresteds. I only use feeders about once a month.

Feel free to ask as many questions as you want to. We're all on the forum because we love talking about our pets.

_Sam_ · #8 (**permalink**) 03-22-2010, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitram

i have an ambient humidity of about 60% relative humidity where i keep my reptiles.. if its hot outside and it gets muggy it can get up to 70% if its colder it will drop to 50-55%, this is with no added humidifier..
the ambient temp is about 75-80 degrees.
do i need to add a hot spot / cool spot for the cresty like my snakes?
i understand the cresties will drink not so much from a bowl but from the leaves after misting, is a once/twice a day misting recommended?
is it important to feed some dusted insects on top of the cgd?
sorry for all the questions but its not as easy to get a "standard" crested gecko caresheet as it is for most animals... that i could find, anyway. thanks for all who replied your help is most appreciated.

As Emily said, your room temp is fine, and you dont need a "hot spot" like for snakes.

I feed my cresties a good amount of bugs, only because i have easy access to free ones :P

And I dont have water bowls in any of my cages. I used to, but they never used them.

nitram · #9 (**permalink**) 03-22-2010, 06:10 AM

should i quarantine the gecko away from my snakes?

EmilyK · #10 (**permalink**) 03-22-2010, 07:00 AM

I quarantine all new animals in a separate room. Couldn't hurt.

_Sam_ · #11 (**permalink**) 03-22-2010, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmilyK

I quarantine all new animals in a separate room. Couldn't hurt.

what she said

nitram · #12 (**permalink**) 03-22-2010, 10:07 PM

ok! i think im ready to take the plunge, wish me luck!

ALTownsend1 · #13 (**permalink**) 03-25-2010, 08:49 PM

I've been reading about these all day since seeing one in person yesterday...Seem like awesome, easy pets...would a 12x12x12 exo terra be sufficient? Somebodies selling one local for like $20...How many crested guys can live in one enclosure? Do you need more room for more cresteds?

nitram · #14 (**permalink**) 03-25-2010, 09:32 PM

from what i understand you can house 1 male and 2 females together not too sure if you can do more females but the males will fight so no more than 1.
i just put in the order for my first cresty should be here some time next week im super excited about that.
im wondering if a young cresty (born january) can be housed in a 10gal until he gets a little bigger eventually im going to use a bigger arboreal enclosure i understand theyre more arboreal than terrestial.

ALTownsend1 · #15 (**permalink**) 03-26-2010, 01:56 AM

Where did you order yours from if you don't mind me asking...

Also, anyone have any opinion on the 12x12x12 exo terra?

nitram · #16 (**permalink**) 03-26-2010, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALTownsend1

Where did you order yours from if you don't mind me asking...

Also, anyone have any opinion on the 12x12x12 exo terra?

i ordered it from sam here in the forum. SK Geckos - Home she posted on this thread, in case i spelled the site wrong.

_Sam_ · #17 (**permalink**) 03-26-2010, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALTownsend1

I've been reading about these all day since seeing one in person yesterday...Seem like awesome, easy pets...would a 12x12x12 exo terra be sufficient? Somebodies selling one local for like $20...How many crested guys can live in one enclosure? Do you need more room for more cresteds?

I personally prefer to house them separately unless you're planning to breed, but you can keep pairs together or multiple females. Don't ever house males together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALTownsend1

Also, anyone have any opinion on the 12x12x12 exo terra?

a 12x12x12 would be sufficient for a young one, but would definitely need a larger tank when it got older. I wouldnt house an adult in that small of a tank. Minimum I'd say is 12x12x18 for one adult, preferably larger

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitram

i ordered it from sam here in the forum. SK Geckos - Home she posted on this thread, in case i spelled the site wrong.

That'd be me

EmilyK · #18 (**permalink**) 03-26-2010, 03:21 AM

That size is fine for one juvie, but I wouldn't keep an adult in it. A 10 gallon on one of its short sides (so its tall) is as small as I would go for one adult. I keep pairs in tubs the size of 20 - 25 gallon tanks and trios in 66qt tubs. I only keep male/females together so the boys don't lose weight and everyone can relax the rest of the year.

nitram · #19 (**permalink**) 03-26-2010, 04:18 AM

i got a bunch of tubs, all bigger than a 10 or even 20gal... theyre almost 4x2 lol i use them for snakes didnt think they'd be high enough for a cresty... maybe ill take a trip to the container store this weekend and pick up a tall tub. my snakes seem to feel more secure in tubs rather than them big fancy enclosures maybe it works the same for the cresties? im a huge fan of tubs...

EmilyK · #20 (**permalink**) 03-26-2010, 06:02 AM

3/4 of my geckos are in tubs. It helps a ton with keeping the humidity up and they seem to like them a lot.

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